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Tata Sky launches new set of regional packshttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213840-Tata-Sky-launches-new-set-of-regional-packs&goto=newpost
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:54:07 GMTMUMBAI: DTH provider, Tata Sky, has now launched another set of regional channel packs - Tata Sky Smart Packs after unveiling a unique Flexi Annual...MUMBAI: DTH provider, Tata Sky, has now launched another set of regional channel packs - Tata Sky Smart Packs after unveiling a unique Flexi Annual Plan. The new list of smart plans includes 10 Indian languages that starts at Rs 206 per month.
The packs consist of Hindi, Punjabi and Gujarati Smart plan of Rs 249. Bengali smart plan costs Rs 220, Odia comes under the bracket of Rs 211 and Marathi plan costs Rs 206. In case of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, the company has priced these language packs for Rs 249 each respectively. The prices listed are inclusive of DRP, NCF and taxes, according to the report.
The channel has also planned to launch two new broadcaster packs that will allow the subscribers to make flexible choices regarding their channel selections. From the list of this new packs, the first pack is the Sony Happy India South B pack for Rs 29.5 and the other one is Turner Family HD pack for Rs 14.75.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213840-Tata-Sky-launches-new-set-of-regional-packsHotstar to disrupt online video subscriptions with Hotstar VIPhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213825-Hotstar-to-disrupt-online-video-subscriptions-with-Hotstar-VIP&goto=newpost
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:16:22 GMTMUMBAI: Hotstar, India’s leading video streaming platform, launches ‘Hotstar VIP’ - a subscription that offers audiences the best of content at just...MUMBAI: Hotstar, India’s leading video streaming platform, launches ‘Hotstar VIP’ - a subscription that offers audiences the best of content at just INR 365 per year. The new subscription plan gives audiences the choice to watch exclusive new content under the Hotstar Specials label, their favourite Star network serials *before television at 6 a.m., and the best of live sporting action, including VIVO IPL, ICC Cricket World Cup, Premier League and much more.
Speaking about the launch of ‘Hotstar VIP’, Varun Narang, Chief Product Officer, Hotstar, said, “It is our endeavour at Hotstar to delight customers with content that they resonate with, at the same time give them the power of choice at an affordable cost. Hotstar VIP is aimed at providing users accessibility – be it with the *introductory price or the ability to watch exclusive new shows in multiple regional languages. It is a value proposition built with the Indian audience at the heart of it.”
A key feature of the Hotstar VIP service is ‘Hotstar Specials’ – a label that will bring bold & authentic stories made by the biggest storytellers of India to crores of consumers across India. The launch of Hotstar VIP coincides with the release of the first Hotstar Special ‘ Roar of the Lion’, a story on Chennai Super Kings amazing comeback under the leadership of M.S.Dhoni. This show will be followed by Criminal Justice, City of Dreams, Hostages and many more shows under the Hotstar Specials label.
For the first time ever, an OTT platform will allow customers to have a *‘pay by cash’ option. This is being done as a test initially, *where users can subscribe to enjoy the Hotstar VIP benefits immediately with cash to be collected from their doorstep in the next 48-72 hours. Adding another layer of convenience for customers, the platform will now allow phone number logins.
Existing subscribers of Hotstar All Annual Sports plan will automatically be upgraded to Hotstar VIP, on a complimentary basis with no additional charge, *and can also enjoy access to Hotstar Specials and Star serials before TV. Hotstar Premium subscribers can avail of the benefits under Hotstar VIP *along with the latest American shows, blockbuster Hollywood movies and award-winning content from International studios.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213825-Hotstar-to-disrupt-online-video-subscriptions-with-Hotstar-VIPARG Outlier Media writes to TRAI, accuses News18 India of flouting landing page direchttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213824-ARG-Outlier-Media-writes-to-TRAI-accuses-News18-India-of-flouting-landing-page-direc&goto=newpost
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:16:22 GMTMUMBAI: ARG Outlier Media Asianet News, which owns channels like Republic TV, Republic Bharat among others, has accused TV18 Broadcast Ltd of...MUMBAI: ARG Outlier Media Asianet News, which owns channels like Republic TV, Republic Bharat among others, has accused TV18 Broadcast Ltd of flouting Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) 3 December 2018 directive to broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPO).
A letter, reviewed by Indiantelevision.com, written by ARG Outlier Media earlier this month states that ‘TV18 Broadcast started its channel News18 India as a landing page on Hathway Digital’, exhorting the regulator to take action against the violator.
In December last year, TRAI had directed*all distributors of TV channels and broadcasters to restrain, with immediate effect, from placing registered television channels, whose TV rating is released by ratings agency, on the landing page or the boot-up screen.
The reason behind this order, according to TRAI, was to protect the interest of service providers and consumers while ensuring “orderly growth of the sector”.
Though the TRAI diktat came into effect immediately, the sector regulator allowed some breather to stakeholders to become fully compliant by 31 March 2019 by making necessary changes in agreements that may have been already signed. However, distributors and TV channels had been asked to report to the regulator with updates within seven days.
Last month, TV18 Broadcast had written to TRAI about Republic Bharat being placed outside the Hindi news genre to drive up viewership.
“The action of placing ‘Republic Bharat’ of ARG Outlier Media outside its relevant genre is also a violation of authority’s broadcasting regulation as framed by the Authority (specially, sub-regulations 2 of regulation 18 of the Telecommunication (Broadcasting and cable) Services Interconnection (Addressable Systems) Regulations, 2017) and as such, impermissible,” TV18 said, requesting TRAI to investigate the matter and take appropriate action against all those violating the regulations.
TV18 said that the channel was being placed in other genres to allow it to “illegally garner higher BARC ratings and increase viewership”.*
“As such, by placing Republic Bharat in non-Hindi news genres, an unfair and undue advantage is being given to ‘Republic Bharat’ when compared with its competing channels that continue to be listed in correct / Hindi news genre,” TV18 said in its complaint to the TRAI.
It is believed that competing Hindi news channels like Aaj Tak and India TV were the other complainants.
“In view of above, we humbly request Authority to kindly take cognisance of this complaint and investigate into the matter rather, in terms of applicable laws, take stem action against all those who may be / have been involved in listing of Republic Bharat outside its genre so as to deprecate such malpractices in future,” TV18 had stated.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213824-ARG-Outlier-Media-writes-to-TRAI-accuses-News18-India-of-flouting-landing-page-direcMX Player’s Gautam Talwar on content plans and digital measurement currencyhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213823-MX-Player’s-Gautam-Talwar-on-content-plans-and-digital-measurement-currency&goto=newpost
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:16:22 GMTMUMBAI: The latest OTT entrant *Times Internet-owned MX Player...MUMBAI: The latest OTT entrant Times Internet-owned MX Player*recently entered the space with five original series on the back of an ad-supported business model. To keep consumers engaged, it aims to launch five to six shows each quarter. While the platform is already working closely with advertisers, it will also venture into branded content soon.
In an interaction with Indiantelevision.com, MX Player chief content officer Gautam Talwar*spoke about the content strategy, initial audience response and content consumption trend on the platform. Talwar also expressed his views on industry issues such as the need for unified measurement, the possibility of consolidation in the OTT space.
Edited excerpts:You started the journey with 5 series. How many shows do you plan to have in your library towards the end of the year?
I think the aim is to have at least 5-6 shows every quarter. That means we will be able to launch 1-2 shows every month. We reach out to a very wide cross section audience of India and the only way to cater to such diversity is being able to meet the diversity of content preference as well. So, we intend to have about 25-30 originals during the course of the year. 20-25, I would say to safely put it.How often do you plan to refresh your library?
We will be launching a huge slate of originals and in terms of licencing and curating content we have already over 100,000 hours of content. That is constantly being refreshed in any case. On Sunday, we had the Radio Mirchi Music awards. So, whatever are the big things that we get, we refresh on a regular basis. But the refreshment will largely be driven with the kind of originals that we are trying to launch as well.In this one month, which shows have got high traction?
That’s a very tough question to answer because with the diverse market and audiences, the shows have got different expectations. For all different shows we have different expectations, different benchmarks. Some would garner watch time, some would bring new audiences, some would deliver spike in participation. We have launched around 3 Hindi shows Hey Prabhu, Aafat and Im Mature. They have driven traffic in users and they have really exceeded our expectation and benchmark both. All three of the shows have done exceedingly well for us. The interesting part is that we got a huge spike in the female participation of the platform. That has gone up significantly since launch I think specifically because of Aafat.
For regional shows, we have also got good traction. The interesting part is that Famously Filmfare in seven languages, Lots of Love is in Tamil and Telugu. So, what we have done is we activated a regional basis also.Can you share the significant content consumption trends on your platform?
I won’t be able to give any specific number but from the trend point of view, three key points are interesting. I think one is the fact that we have got a huge amount of participation from non-metro audiences. Apart from the top 8 metros which have also brought significant contribution, the non-metros have shown us a very significant spike in viewership. That’s one key content consumption trend for us.
The other interesting point is that a very large part of our audiences are actually newcomers in the age group of 18-35 as well. That’s the other interesting part.
Most people who are coming in are actually completing shows. Even on Twitter or other social media, the largest question asked are when is season 2 of Hey Prabhu, Im Mature launching. These are the content consumption trends we are looking at.You have offline download capability also. Do audience stream more or prefer downloading?
Downloads have been activated for originals only when we launched. It’s a new feature. It all comes down to saying that because of the interesting content we put up, both the numbers are looking good. The actual number of who want to stream and want to download has increased. We don’t have downloads for all. Some of the licenced content cannot be downloaded. Only a fraction of the library, specifically the originals, are available for download.How many advertisers do you currently have on board?
MX Player has been with the advertising community for very long time. We maintained those relationships and they are coming on to the streaming platform as well. So it’s been a healthy growth I would say, in terms of getting the advertisers on board.
We will be launching our first ever branded content. By the end of this month, we will be doing a show called Love Ok Please and that has been sponsored by a brand called Too Yumm.Can you throw more light on your content strategy?
We formed a content strategy sometime ago. A lot of our shows are going to be catering to the heartland of audiences. We are going to be targeting the metro audiences. Because of the depth of distribution of MX Player, it is extremely critical that we kind of get shows for all kind of audiences, even all kinds of genres as well. We just started and we have to go a long way to ensure that. But the interesting part is that, from our perspective, I think one thing that we would like doing within this year is probably getting interactivity built into the content as well.What’s your take on the need for unified currency for digital measurement?
We have been hearing about EKAM for a very long time. I think it's about time we get an independent medium to give authenticity that is required for advertisers to make sure that data being pulled out of all private OTT platforms has got a common currency. Once we get a common currency, we think advertisers will be at least clear about the value OTT players bring to the table, therefore, whatever the advertising rate that are being asked for has some amount of justification. I am sure over a period of time, as an industry we will come together for that level of third party measurement for all OTT players.Do you foresee consolidation in the OTT space?
I think there will be some sense of consolidation. It is an extremely difficult business, it’s not only about content but also product, streaming, technology and engineering. You need a lot of things to get an OTT platform going. I think all players are not necessarily good at all things. I think it’s very important to get all parts of the puzzle right and also it requires deep pockets to make sure that do you have the strength and the will to make sure you last in the content business.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213823-MX-Player’s-Gautam-Talwar-on-content-plans-and-digital-measurement-currencyNetflix CEO Reed Hastings on competition and content creation in Indiahttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213822-Netflix-CEO-Reed-Hastings-on-competition-and-content-creation-in-India&goto=newpost
Thu, 21 Mar 2019 02:16:22 GMTMUMBAI: With Amazon flexing its muscle and soon to be Disney-owned Hotstar in the fray, the Indian OTT market is super competitive and exciting,...MUMBAI: With Amazon flexing its muscle and soon to be Disney-owned Hotstar in the fray, the Indian OTT market is super competitive and exciting, feels Netflix CEO Reed Hastings. "There is also lots happening on Amazon, and on Hotstar, which is now going to be owned by Disney... It's a super competitive, exciting market,” he was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.
One of the hallmarks of the Indian market, Hastings highlighted, is the ongoing telecom revolution triggered by Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Jio. According to him, there is "nothing more impressive in the world than what Reliance Jio has done in the past four years in India" to democratise internet accessibility.
The streaming giant’s boss is of the opinion that these are good times for Indian content creators.
"If you were an Indian content creator (earlier), there were very few places to go, and now there are many places to go. So, people are pouring in. There are amazing amounts of stories that are coming up,” he said.
The 58-year-old is pleased with his company’s performance in India.
"There has been tremendous traction... Everyone has been talking about Lust Stories and Sacred Games. We have Delhi Crime coming out this week. So, there's lots that's happening on the original front,” he added.
Hastings pointed out that the Indian market has room to do different kinds of stories.
"We try to tell the best stories we can. Sometimes they are ready, sometimes they take longer. It really varies by that. There are so many streaming services, but if you think about how many networks there are on cable in India, there are way more than 34. I think there's a lot of room to do different kinds of stories," he stated.
Hastings also commented on the self-regulatory Code of Best Practices that Netflix and others have signed.
"None of us want strict government regulation on content. We can be flexible and can protect creative freedom a little better if we are a little bit proactive," he explained.
On the online censorship front, there is not much activity, Hastings noted.
"It's just before the elections. We are hoping the talk moves on because it's a challenging time to talk about anything like that. So in general, people around the world...and I am talking about adults, not children, want to watch what they want to watch, and the Internet represents that freedom,” he said.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213822-Netflix-CEO-Reed-Hastings-on-competition-and-content-creation-in-IndiaSBI Life Insurance launches breast cancer awareness campaign “Thanks a Dot”http://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213813-SBI-Life-Insurance-launches-breast-cancer-awareness-campaign-“Thanks-a-Dot”&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 10:43:37 GMTMUMBAI: *SBI Life Insurance*...MUMBAI: SBI Life Insurance, one of India’s largest private life insurers, has launched ‘Thanks A Dot’, an innovative breast cancer awareness initiative that is supported by the Women’s Cancer Initiative -Tata Memorial Hospital. The programme intends to empower the women of India by educating them about early lump detection through simple self-examination techniques. An easy-to-use self-training module to detect the early signs of lump formation can be ordered free of cost through SBI Life’s corporate website.
To take this initiative forward and ensure maximum reach, the communication and promotions online will be handled and executed by SBI Life’s digital and social media partner, WATConsult, the digital and social media agency from the house of Dentsu Aegis Network.
Tata Memorial Hospital vice president of women’s cancer initiative and a Breast Cancer survivor Devieka Bhojwani said, “The Women’s Cancer Initiative, has been constantly working towards making a difference, by spreading awareness about the importance of early detection in Breast Cancer. India is seeing a steady rise in the cases of Breast Cancer, with as many as 1,00,000 new cases being detected every year. Early detection is vital and can improve cure rates in about 80% of the cases. Many Indian women and their families rarely understand the importance of this issue and fail to undergo regular check-ups. SBI Life’s Thanks-A-Dot tool allows you to learn and understand what a lump would feel like. It is your way to start familiarising yourself.”

‘Thanks A Dot’ self-detection tool has been designed using real breast cancer mammograms to re-create breast cancer lumps using a special algorithm and 3D printing. The breast cancer lump shapes are put on a learning card in the form of a language inspired by Braille. Users solve puzzles and quizzes using the special language (present on the learning card), thus capturing a positive feeling of carrying out early detection examination and promoting regular self-checks. 'Thanks A Dot' helps improve tactile (touch) capacity in women to detect early signs of lump formation.
SBI Life Insurance chief of brand and corporate communications Ravindra Sharma said, “Cancer in India has more than doubled over the last 26 years. The impact can be devastating on families both emotionally and financially. Though breast cancer is most common among Indian women both in terms of occurrence as well as mortality, it continues to remain a taboo in India. Moreover, women who are aware of the concept of self-examination are unsure of what a lump feels like. ‘Thanks-A-Dot’ is a path-breaking initiative. While improving tactile capacity in women it also simultaneously fosters positive conversations around self-breast examination, thereby breaking social barriers that have plagued our society for long.”
“As a responsible life insurer, we believe that we have an important role to play in educating and empowering women by increasing awareness about breast cancer and its financial implications. We hope that ‘Thanks A Dot’ can make a meaningful difference by helping women in being prepared for the uncertainties of life,” Sharma added.
SBI Life has leveraged multiple digital platforms to launch the ‘Thanks a Dot’ awareness initiative; the campaign has rolled out with the launch of a video that highlights the significance of the power of touch and showcases the benefits of self-breast examination through this tool. The video urges every woman to take a step further and inculcate a habit of self-breast examination regularly and confidently.
WATConsult founder and chief executive officer Rajiv Dingra said, “Early detection is the key to breast cancer survival and even though many women are aware of this, most are unsure of the feel of a lump formation. Thus, taking an inspiration from the Braille language and Power of Touch and to inculcate a habit of self-examination at an earlier stage, we created an innovative product - "Thanks A Dot", an easy-to-use self-training puzzle card to bring the power detection to your fingertips and enabling women to take necessary actions sooner rather than later.”
The first phase of the initiative kick-started on International Women’s Day, featuring the ‘Real Life Real Story’ video of Sujaya Walia, a breast cancer survivor and activist. In the video, Walia is seen talking about her journey fighting cancer, how family and financial preparedness holds key and urges more women to come forward and discuss such issues openly.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213813-SBI-Life-Insurance-launches-breast-cancer-awareness-campaign-“Thanks-a-Dot”Max Life Insurance announces partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalorehttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213805-Max-Life-Insurance-announces-partnership-with-Royal-Challengers-Bangalore&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 09:59:38 GMTMUMBAI: *Max Life Insurance*...MUMBAI: Max Life Insurance*has announced its partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore for the upcoming T20 season. As a part of the partnership, Max Life Insurance will be the official life insurance partner of the Bengaluru team for T20 League.
Speaking on the partnership, Max Life Insurance managing director and CEO Prashant Tripathy said, “India is a young country and T20 offers a great platform to connect with the youth. The partnership of Max Life with Royal Challengers Bangalore is aimed at reaching out to the youth in an impactful manner through their diverse and dynamic fan base. The recent India Protection Quotient survey conducted by with Kantar IMRB across India has revealed that only 17 per cent of youth own term insurance, which is one of the cheapest forms of life insurance. As life insurance partners of the team, we hope to increase awareness around protection with the youth and drive the message to build a more protected nation.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore chairman Sanjeev Churiwala stated, “While protection of players is taken care of in many ways, the financial manifestation is something that needs to be given equal thought to. We are happy to be partnering with Max Life Insurance, a life insurer that also has one of the best claims paid ratio currently in the country. We aim to drive the message of the importance of financial protection through this partnership.”
The partnership between Max Life and Royal Challengers Bangalore aims to draw the attention of fans and public alike, to the importance and criticality of financial protection in today’s world. Royal Challengers Bangalore will play Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on 23 March to kick start the 12th edition of Indian Premier League.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213805-Max-Life-Insurance-announces-partnership-with-Royal-Challengers-BangaloreNetflix declines being part of Apple TV servicehttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213801-Netflix-declines-being-part-of-Apple-TV-service&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 08:50:32 GMTMUMBAI: Streaming giant Netflix will not make its content available on Apple’s upcoming video offering. The latter is expected to introduce its...MUMBAI: Streaming giant Netflix will not make its content available on Apple’s upcoming video offering. The latter is expected to introduce its video-streaming services on 25 March*ramping up the competition in streaming business.
“We prefer to let our customers watch our content on our service,” Netflix CEO Reed Hastings told as quoted by the Reuters. “We have chosen not to integrate with their service,” he added.
Till now, Netflix*has not adopted the most recent revamp of Apple's TV app for iOS. According to media reports, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said that their intentions have been moving away from the App Store subscription fee defending the decision not to adopt. He also added that Apple TV was not an important source of revenue for the OTT platform.
The new service from Apple may have original content as well as resell subscriptions from CBS Corp, Viacom and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp’s Starz among others. *With entry of apple, the upcoming launch of Disney’s streaming service, Netflix is about to face tough challenge in near future.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213801-Netflix-declines-being-part-of-Apple-TV-serviceIPRS grants music license to Google for Indiahttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213799-IPRS-grants-music-license-to-Google-for-India&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 08:16:22 GMTMUMBAI: The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) has granted a license to Google, enabling the company to utilise IPRS members’ Indian...MUMBAI: The Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) has granted a license to Google, enabling the company to utilise IPRS members’ Indian works repertoire in India across YouTube and related services.
IPRS is the registered copyright society in India authorised to carry out the copyright business in respect of musical works and literary works (lyrics), associated with musical works and members comprising of author (lyricists), music Composers and music publishers.
IPRS CEO Rakesh Nigam stated, “The IPRS agreement with Google is nothing short of historic. IPRS and its members will benefit greatly from the arrangement with Google. IPRS licensing reach has significantly increased *as a registered copyright society and its mandate to function efficiently and transparently vis-à-vis licensees, members and the public. This is another step to ensure IPRS’ standing as the preeminent copyright society in India”
YouTube global head of music licensing Christophe Muller said, “This is yet another step in YouTube’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that writers, composers and publishers continue to be paid fairly, and that our users are able to enjoy their favorite songs and discover new music on YouTube. *We’re extremely pleased to have reached this important agreement with IPRS that will bring more value to songwriters and artists, and deliver an incredible experience to music fans in India.”
Saregama India Ltd CEO IPRS director Vikram Mehra said, “This is an extremely positive development. The deal between IPRS and Google for its YouTube and other related services will surely strengthen the copyright ecosystem in India. Indian Artistes will recognise value from the exploitation of their creations and this arrangement will yield more value for all IPRS members.”
IPRS chairman Javed Akhtar said, “The IPRS-Google agreement is a historic milestone for Indian authors and music composers as well as music publishers. I congratulate and thank Google for backing Indian artistes, music publishers and the creative fraternity in such a strong way in India. This is the beginning of a very strong relationship with Google. IPRS is determined to ensure that these relationship augers well and proves beneficial to the creative fraternity in India. YouTube has a strong and pioneering role to play in encouraging creators and connecting them with markets and users. This deal between IPRS and Google for its YouTube and other related services will provide benefits to creators and members of IPRS in a tangible and meaningful way.”

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213799-IPRS-grants-music-license-to-Google-for-IndiaWeber Shandwick appoints Nikhil Dey as vice chair in indiahttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213795-Weber-Shandwick-appoints-Nikhil-Dey-as-vice-chair-in-india&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:42:34 GMTMUMBAI: Weber Shandwick, one of the world's leading global communications and marketing solutions firms, today announced the appointment of Nikhil Dey as vice chair of the firm’s India operations. Dey will focus on shaping the firm’s employee experience, strengthening existing client relationships and creating opportunities for global clients in India.
Dey will be part of the firm’s India leadership board, working with senior leadership across the Asia Pacific region – including Valerie Pinto, CEO of Weber Shandwick India – to build synergies and service outcomes.*
“With Nikhil’s depth of knowledge and experience, we aim to significantly grow our talent base, revenue streams and continue to lead with a client-first approach to deliver stronger and higher value to our clients,” said Baxter Jolly, CEO of Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific. “We are also tremendously proud of our achievements in India under Valerie’s leadership and are extremely bullish on our potential in the India market. We believe this combination of strengths will be unbeatable in the market and will enable us to grow significantly in India.”
Pinto also commented, “Building Weber Shandwick as a strong employer brand with a work environment that attracts the best talent to our profession is an integral part of our growth strategy in India. Our people are an essential part of the firm, and creativity is the foundation of everything we do. Nikhil, with his unmatched knowledge and expertise will help us further build our culture of creativity and collaboration. Along with this, he will help the agency to continue to provide our clients with unique solutions and a forward-thinking approach to their communications challenges.”

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213795-Weber-Shandwick-appoints-Nikhil-Dey-as-vice-chair-in-india“ABBY AWARDS 2019” announces the illustrious Master Jury for the Creative ABBY’shttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213794-“ABBY-AWARDS-2019”-announces-the-illustrious-Master-Jury-for-the-Creative-ABBY’s&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:42:34 GMTMUMBAI: The gold standard in advertising awards, ABBY Awards 2019 that celebratescreative excellence in the category has announced an illustrious...MUMBAI: The gold standard in advertising awards, ABBY Awards 2019 that celebratescreative excellence in the category has announced an illustrious master jury for the upcoming edition. *Introduced last year at the ABBY’s, the master jury is reposed with the responsibly of judging pioneering work that deserves the ABBY. *The Master Jury boasts of 12 esteemed creative legends and innovators who have been game changers in the category.

*The esteemed Master Jury is entrusted with the key responsibility of together screening entries received in the Creative ABBY’s category, thereby arriving at the shortlist. The shortlisted entries will then have to further pass round 2 of the litmus test on creativity and impact, emerging as the benchmark of innovation in the category.Speaking about*Master Jury for the for the upcoming edition of the ABBY’s, Shashi Sinha, Chair of the Awards*Governing Council, ABBY Awards 2019 said“We have always believed that awards are as credible as the jury. We have hence curated a master jury constituting of the best creative minds and thought leaders from the industry, each of who have been icons in their area of work. The versatile and visionary jury will ensure that only the most deserving, ground breaking and effective campaigns emerge victorious. *With such veterans at the jury panel, we are all set for an inspiring and ingenious edition of the ABBY Awards 2019.”The Master Jury will be judging all the creative entries received across 7 verticals and 8 categories across two rounds. Round I of the judging process will be held online followed by a combined deliberation in Round II.8 categories :

1

FMCG - Foods & Beverages

2

FMCG - Personal Care, Home Care, Healthcare & Others

3

Consumer Durables

4

Automotive

5

Services

6

Retail

7

Corporate, Media, Entertainment & Others

8

Public Service

*7 verticals:

1

Still Print

2

Still Digital

3

Audio Visual TV / Cinema

4

Audio Visual Digital

5

Radio

6

Out Of Home, Ambient Media*/ Activation

7

Integrated

*Presented by the Advertising Club*and AAAI,*the ABBYs 2019 will be a highlight at the leading advertising convention, Goafest, where*once again the entire advertising and marketing fraternity is expected to come together in Goa.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213794-“ABBY-AWARDS-2019”-announces-the-illustrious-Master-Jury-for-the-Creative-ABBY’s1700 Mumbaikars cycle to raise awareness for mental healthhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213792-1700-Mumbaikars-cycle-to-raise-awareness-for-mental-health&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:04:19 GMTMUMBAI: Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare from The Aditya Birla Education Trust, today returned with its fourth edition of Aditya Birla...MUMBAI: Mpower, a pioneer in Indian mental healthcare from The Aditya Birla Education Trust, today returned with its fourth edition of Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower, a cycle ride to create awareness and stamp out the stigma associated with mental health illnesses. In this edition, Mpower aims to bring the #StampOutStigma in our society today by bringing together Mumbaikars and encourage them to increase conversations around mental health.
The cycle ride saw more than 1700 cyclists and fitness champions lend their support towards this critical cause as they cycled through the streets of Mumbai on 17th March 2019. These Mumbaikars pledged to become champions of mental health. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower marks Mpower's most successful awareness initiatives. Over the last four editions, it strived to educate individuals on the correlation between physical and mental health toward an individual’s overall well-being.
Flagged off by Mrs. Neerja Birla, popular Cyclist and RTM Ride Director Firoza Suresh and Mr Mayank Bathwal, CEO Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Limited, the 27km ride began from Dome@NSCI to Asian Heart Institute, 15km ride began from Dome@NSCI to Shivaji Park and 7km rides began from Dome@NSCI to JK Kapur Chowk. The Movement saw avid participation of people from all walks of life including social and mental health activists, business leaders, inspirational youth icons and school children.
One in six people in India suffer from a serious mental disorder, and yet mental health remains a taboo in most Indian households, schools, colleges and offices. This taboo is what prevents real progress on the mental health front, primarily by attaching stigma to any and all mental health related concerns. The uncaring attitude, the ignorant labels, the tone-deaf conversations, the endless stigma and the lack of mental healthcare need to change. These #StampOutStigma through Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower will bring awareness and encourage conversation around mental health, as well as engage people to support, diagnose, prevent and seek help for mental health concerns.
Mazhar Nadiadwala, Managing Director, Dome Entertainment Pvt Ltd, said, “We, at Dome, truly believe that being healthy is beyond just having a fit body. It is about keeping the mind healthy as well. Dome Entertainment hosted Ride to Mpower 2019, a cycling marathon to spread awareness about mental health. This initiative was our effort at trying to reach out to the society to highlight that simple fact. It was truly heartening to see eminent personalities like Firoza Suresh, Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor and Dr. Ambrish Dharmadhikari, Psychiatrist & Head, Medical Services, Mpower – The Foundation be a part of this venture and participate in the cause. As a cycling enthusiast myself, I am thrilled to see cycling gain such a popularity as a sport. I have always believed that cycling is a unique sport which keeps both mind and body healthy. It was truly great to show people the benefits of cycling and the importance of mental health. This was the best way for us to do combine the two. It was a great experience collaborating with Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Mpower for this event and we truly believe that what she is trying to do is a much needed aspect in today’s society. The events team of Mpower, headed by Anita Lobo were extremely cooperative to work with and it is great to align with a team that understands our values and perceptions so well. We saw great support from the Aditya Birla Group with Mayant Batwal, CEO of Aditya Birla Health; Darshana Shah, Head of Marketing, Aditya Birla Health Insurance and Amit Bajaj - President, Corporate Affairs, Aditya Birla Group all present at the event and helping us flag off different marathons. The presence and support of Bhushan Gaghrani - Principal Secretary, Chief Minister’s Office and Mr. Sanjay Barve - Commissioner of Police, Mumbai showed us the intensity of how important this cause was.”
Being a fitness aficionado herself, through this event, Mrs. Neerja Birla aims to bring together all fitness aficionados to pledge their support towards mental health. Commenting on this initiative - Ride to Mpower, Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson, Mpower, said, “Mpower – The Movement is all about creating a paradigm shift in the way people think of mental health. Everyone knows that it's important and normal to take care of one's physical health and Mpower endeavours to make people aware that it is just as important and normal to take care of one's mental health. The cycle ride is our way of reaching out to the community, in order to highlight that a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. This is the fourth cycle ride we've done and as participation increases, I hope that it will encourage more people to embrace a more holistic approach to wellness and self-care.”
Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor and a prominent figure in the cyclist community herself, RTM Ride Director Firoza Suresh said “I am happy to be part of the Aditya Birla Health Insurance Ride to Mpower initiative and see Mumbai come together and support this cause. We hope to have created awareness about the positive impact of cycling on mental health and how is very important in building physical endurance, connecting with nature, socializing & s**** development, all invigorate the learning process”
Mr. Mayank Bathwal, CEO Aditya Birla Health said, “Mental health and awareness is crucial today and it must be welcomed without any stereotypes and preconceived notions in the society. Having seen Mumbaikars ride towards stamping out stigma and supporting our cause makes us believe that we have achieved a milestone towards promoting philosophy of health first in health insurance. With such a large participation, Aditya Birla Health Ride to Mpower has made a strong and impactful step forward in spreading awareness on the mental health menace that is slowly crippling our society.”
Anita Lobo, Head - Events, Mpower said, “I am happy to play a small part in creating awareness about this cause and delighted to see Mumbaikars extending their support. Ride to Mpower is in its 4th year now and encourages everyone to stay physically and mentally fit. People are now becoming more open about the subject and slowly, but steadily the taboo is being lifted. Through Mpower - The Movement, we aim to stamp out the stigma around mental health and sensitize people to be alert and speak up whenever necessary”
The brainchild of Mrs. Neerja Birla, Mpower was launched three years ago, and has been at the forefront to affect change and proactively champion the cause of mental health, create awareness, advocate prevention and provide services with a professional, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach in the country.
Stamp Out the Stigma around mental illnesses with Mpower - The Foundation
A World Health Organisation study reports that over 6% of the Indian population suffers from a serious mental disorder and do not have the right kind of help to facilitate recovery, which may lead to extreme situations like suicide. * In India, it is difficult to change perceptions related to mental health. The challenge lies in repairing the inborn conditioning which perceives mental illnesses as evil. We do not talk about mental health.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213792-1700-Mumbaikars-cycle-to-raise-awareness-for-mental-healthDCMN India bags media duties for FanFighthttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213791-DCMN-India-bags-media-duties-for-FanFight&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:04:19 GMTMUMBAI: *DCMN India* (http://www.indiantelevision.com/mam/media-and-advertising/account/dcmn-india-wins-media-duties-for-behrouz-biryani-190304), a...MUMBAI: DCMN India, a growth marketing partner to digital-first brands, has bagged the media duties for FanFight, India's fastest growing fantasy sports start-up. The account will be serviced from the Gurgaon office of DCMN and will be led by DCMN India country head Bindu Balakrishnan
The mandate involves managing the media duties across multiple channels for FanFight and establishing it as a leading player in the Indian market. The focus will be on brand building as well as delivering performance for FanFight.
FanFight is all set to launch a massive pan-India campaign to connect with its audiences and indulge them in fantasy sports, especially when the country is all set to witness IPL Season 12 and Cricket World Cup in 2019.
FanFight CEO and co-founder Akhil Suhag says, “We are extremely happy to partner with DCMN India. We were looking for growth partners who understood our need to drive performance with branding in our unique and competitive market. We believe there is a great synergy between DCMN India and FanFight, and are looking forward for a great partnership.”
DCMN India country head Bindu Balakrishnan says, “DCMN India is very happy to have FanFight on board and we are looking forward to a great partnership and some exciting campaigns in the coming months. India is a nation of cricket lovers, and fantasy cricket games like FanFight allow users to use their knowledge and research of players to create their own teams, and then see whether their assumptions paid off in the actual match or not. It’s an exciting genre. With the cricketing season just around the corner, the time is right for FanFight to take the next step in its growth – and DCMN is right by them to help them realise their goals. In the coming months, DCMN and FanFight will work closely together to drive increased brand awareness as well as performance in terms of installs and app engagement. With our clear focus on digital brands and our vision of growing the market leaders of tomorrow, we believe we have the right approach to take FanFight to the next level.”

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213791-DCMN-India-bags-media-duties-for-FanFighthttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213790-Saatchi-amp-Saatchi-Focus-rechristened-to-Publicis-Health-amp-Publicis-Business&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 07:04:19 GMTMUMBAI: Building on the *Publicis Groupe*...MUMBAI: Building on the Publicis Groupe*philosophy of Power of One, with customers at the centre of everything they do, Saatchi & Saatchi Focus, an award-winning; specialist knowledge-based communication agency has officially been rechristened to Publicis Health & Publicis Business. Its B2B, IT, Talent and Healthcare communication expertise over the last 20 years will add to Publicis Groupe’s comprehensive offerings to clients, which include creative, digital, PR, activation and production services, as well as media and digital transformation.
Publicis Health will support the health and wellness verticals for the agency and would function out of its offices in Mumbai and Bangalore. It currently services an array of clients including Novartis, Sanofi, Abbott, Wockhardt, Clinton Foundation among others. Meanwhile, Publicis Business will cater to the B2B, IT and Talent space and would operate out of its office in Bangalore. It manages clients such as Bosch, AIS, ICICI Bank, Coats, thyssenkrupp, Sonata Software, Infosys among others.
Speaking on the development Publicis Worldwide India managing director Srija Chatterjee said, “This initiative is an indication of our focus on being seen as an integrated solutions provider offering full-service capabilities under one roof. In keeping with the Power of One philosophy, the new entities will work seamlessly across our offices and assist in enhancing brand advocacy and growth of our Healthcare and B2B clients in India.”
Saatchi & Saatchi Focus has been around for over two decades catering to the communication requirements of B2B clients who understood their business processes and were able to provide sales support. It later branched out into talent branding and healthcare verticals. The agency works with several IT, engineering, and pharma & healthcare majors across the country and overseas.
Publicis Health is one of the four critical pillars as part of the Groupe’s core global strategy. Its goal is to create attitude-changing dialogues around health & wellness. Further, its mission is to deliver ideas of purpose that compel positive actions by the target audience towards better health. The unit comprises a diverse talent pool that thrives on relevant insights and remains intellectually curious to put out life-changing communication in the marketplace.
Publicis Business works across Publicis Groupe clients to offer specialised solutions that are category-leading in the marketplace. The unit has been steadfast in its purpose of providing relevant, original, and impactful communication to its clients over the years.

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]]>Television Forumsindiantelevisionhttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213790-Saatchi-amp-Saatchi-Focus-rechristened-to-Publicis-Health-amp-Publicis-BusinessDiscovery India unveils unique short-form video destination on Dailyhunt app; Discovehttp://www.wikinewforum.info/showthread.php?213788-Discovery-India-unveils-unique-short-form-video-destination-on-Dailyhunt-app-Discove&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Mar 2019 06:28:47 GMTMUMBAI: Discovery Communications India (DCIN), country’s leading factual entertainment network, has entered into a unique partnership with India’s No...MUMBAI: Discovery Communications India (DCIN), country’s leading factual entertainment network, has entered into a unique partnership with India’s No 1 News and local content discovery app – Dailyhunt. DCIN has introduced a video destination named Discovery Plus on the home page of Dailyhunt App offering exhilarating short form video content especially customized for the digital audiences in India. The content across Discovery’s strong verticals of Outdoor, Food, Wildlife, Science and Military is currently available in five languages namely English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu and Bengali.
This win-win partnership will help DCIN immediately expand its footprint on the digital domain in India leveraging 153 million monthly user base of Dailyhunt platform. On the other hand, Dailyhunt will be enriched with the unrivalled content library and upcoming titles of Discovery thus helping nurture passionate communities looking for factual entertainment on digital media.
Within 9 days of the soft launch, the Discovery Plus section has received more than 50 million views and more than 4 million unique users visited the Discovery Plus section on the Dailyhunt app. *DCIN aims to refresh videos on Discovery Plus, ranging from 1-5 minutes, on a daily basis to engage with the emerging superfans community.
Talking about the initiative, Simon Robinson, Managing Director, Discovery Asia Pacific and Chief Financial Officer, Discovery International, said, “The partnership with Dailyhunt offers us an exciting opportunity to understand, analyze and explore India’s burgeoning digital play. We are delighted with the initial trends, they further reinforce our belief that Discovery’s content offers immense unexplored potential for the digital domain in India.”
Umang Bedi, President, Dailyhunt, said, “At Dailyhunt, we are super excited about this partnership with Discovery. We understand Bharat and its content needs the best and we feel very confident about Discovery’s content being a massive hit with vast diaspora of India. This partnership is completely aligned with our overall content plans of providing unique, exclusive, high quality content from great content partners like Discovery as we rapidly scale our business.”*
The multi-year agreement, exclusive for the featured short-form content on Discovery Plus, will offer scalable monetization opportunity to the two organizations.